English
Thenextdayshewenttoherfriendandtoldherofherdistress.
MadameForestierwenttoawardrobewithamirror,tookoutalargejewelbox,broughtitback,openeditandsaidtoMadameLoisel:
"Choose,mydear."
Shesawfirstsomebracelets,thenapearlnecklace,thenaVenetiangoldcrosssetwithpreciousstones,ofadmirableworkmanship.Shetriedontheornamentsbeforethemirror,hesitatedandcouldnotmakeuphermindtopartwiththem,togivethemback.Shekeptasking:
"Haven'tyouanymore?"
"Why,yes.Lookfurther;Idon'tknowwhatyoulike."
Suddenlyshediscovered,inablacksatinbox,asuperbdiamondnecklace,andherheartthrobbedwithanimmoderatedesire.Herhandstrembledasshetookit.Shefasteneditroundherthroat,outsideherhigh-neckedwaist,andwaslostinecstasyatherreflectioninthemirror.
Thensheasked,hesitating,filledwithanxiousdoubt:
"Willyoulendmethis,onlythis?"
"Why,yes,certainly."
Shethrewherarmsroundherfriend'sneck,kissedherpassionately,thenfledwithhertreasure.
Thenightoftheballarrived.MadameLoiselwasagreatsuccess.Shewasprettierthananyotherwomanpresent,elegant,graceful,smilingandwildwithjoy.
Allthemenlookedather,askedhername,soughttobeintroduced.AlltheattachesoftheCabinetwishedtowaltzwithher.Shewasremarkedbytheministerhimself.
Shedancedwithrapture,withpassion,intoxicatedbypleasure,forgettingallinthetriumphofherbeauty,inthegloryofhersuccess,inasortofcloudofhappinesscomprisedofallthishomage,admiration,theseawakeneddesiresandofthatsenseoftriumphwhichissosweettowoman'sheart.
Shelefttheballaboutfouro'clockinthemorning.Herhusbandhadbeensleepingsincemidnightinalittledesertedanteroomwiththreeothergentlemenwhosewiveswereenjoyingtheball.
Hethrewoverhershouldersthewrapshehadbrought,themodestwrapsofcommonlife,thepovertyofwhichcontrastedwiththeeleganceoftheballdress.Shefeltthisandwishedtoescapesoasnottoberemarkedbytheotherwomen,whowereenvelopingthemselvesincostlyfurs.
Loiselheldherback,saying:"Waitabit.Youwillcatchcoldoutside.Iwillcallacab."
Butshedidnotlistentohimandrapidlydescendedthestairs.Whentheyreachedthestreettheycouldnotfindacarriageandbegantolookforone,shoutingafterthecabmenpassingatadistance.
TheywenttowardtheSeineindespair,shiveringwithcold.Atlasttheyfoundonthequayoneofthoseancientnightcabswhich,asthoughtheywereashamedtoshowtheirshabbinessduringtheday,areneverseenroundParisuntilafterdark.
IttookthemtotheirdwellingintheRuedesMartyrs,andsadlytheymountedthestairstotheirflat.Allwasendedforher.Astohim,hereflectedthathemustbeattheministryatteno'clockthatmorning.
Sheremovedherwrapsbeforetheglasssoastoseeherselfoncemoreinallherglory.Butsuddenlysheutteredacry.Shenolongerhadthenecklacearoundherneck!
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